Love

This video of an elderly couple dancing up a storm while on vacation reminds us all of what it means to be young at heart.

The adorable Texan couple named Burt and Carol were vacationing when they entered a restaurant in the Inverary Resort in Nova Scotia, Canada. When they walked in, they asked musician Keith Mullins if there was any way they could just order water. What they really wanted to do was dance.

With all of the rising hatred around the world right now, it feels impossible to relate to other people.

If the comments sections on social media posts are any indication of how people really feel about each other, then it seems like we are doomed to experience fewer and fewer meaningful human connections until we separate ourselves completely.

But as the people of Choir! Choir! Choir! demonstrate, sometimes the only thing you need to connect with other people is a common interest, like singing your heart out in unison.

In 2011, Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman started the choir as a weekly get-together in Ontario, Canada, for people to sing pop music and enjoy each other’s company.

Everyone thinks the story of how they met their significant other is great and completely unique. Well, they happen to be right.

When you think about it, meeting someone you love, even if it’s temporary, is pretty incredible. There are billions of people on Planet Earth and you can find one that fits you perfectly. Whether you date online, in person or work together, meeting a special someone is pretty exciting. You’re beating the odds when you meet someone you truly love.

These people met in such unique ways, it’s hard to believe it really happened.

1.) Communication is everything–no matter how you communicate

Mary and Stephen Lindoff, married for more than 30 years, met when they were 9 and 8, respectively. They sat near one another in a school for the deaf in Montreal, Quebec. They parted ways, and would not meet again for over 20 years. Stephen was born completely deaf, and a bout of tuberculosis left him with minimal vision at the age of 6. Mary was also born deaf, and her vision began to deteriorate about 10 years ago, though it’s still better than her husband’s. Much of their communication, then, is based on touch, including tactile finger spelling. And because senses are heightened in the absence of others, Mary and Stephen’s sense of touch is extremely sensitive; though they’ve never heard one another’s voices and Stephen has never seen Mary’s face clearly, the couple knows everything about each other. And you know what else that means: “The sex is good,” Stephen told the Toronto Star.

2.) Love that can stand the test of time.

Bob Humphries, 89, and Bernie Bluett, 87, met and fell in love as teenagers, but had to part ways when they both enlisted in the RAF in World War II. After the war, their lives continued in different directions, leading them both to marriages (to other people), and to Bernie moving to New Zealand. In 2002, Bernie’s daughter discovered that Bob was still alive, and the former (and future) couple, was reunited. Bernie moved back to England, finally seeing one another for the first time in decades. “When I saw him again I didn’t see an old man – I saw that young soldier. We both feel young at heart,” Bernie said. The couple was married in 2013.

3.) It’s nice to have the same interests

It’s always nice to hear stories of love in adverse circumstances, although this story is not exactly sweet. Jeana Ramsey met Edward Johnson when she was working as a cook in the Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, IN. Edward was an inmate, serving a second sentence. When he was released in 2001, they moved in together. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and Jeana must have been easily led, because soon after, the couple was arrested after a bank robbery turned violent–two tellers were killed and a security guard was left paralyzed. They pled guilty. Edward got 40 years while Jeana got 7. Oh well. I’m sure the romance was fun while it lasted.

4.) Love comes from tragedy

Boston Marathon participant James Costello was photographed the day of the 2013 bombing, staggering away from the explosion, clothing shredded, in what became an iconic image of the tragedy. He underwent several surgeries for his injuries, and recuperated at the Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital. There, he met Krista D’Agostino, a nurse who aided him in his recovery. They were engaged by December, and married in August 2014.

5.) Winning the lottery…of love

Eddie Harrison and Edith Hill, 95 and 96, respectively, met because they both liked to play the lottery. They both won and split the $2,500 prize. But they actually won a whole lot more. They spent ten years together before marrying in 2014, and consider themselves soul mates, never arguing. However, there are other factors that put their romance in peril. Edith’s daughters are fighting for custody of Edith, and, depending on the outcome, Edith could lose her house–and her husband. The couple is firm on their love and are willing to fight to stay together, though. “We’ll always be like this regardless of what happens,” Eddie says.

6.) Sometimes you need a matchmaker

Lynne Love is a funeral director, and probably didn’t consider dabbling in matchmaking until she met Tom Lennon, 76, and Isabell Bacon, 70. She was helping them arrange funerals for their respective spouses, and kept in contact with them for some time after the funerals. Both widow and widower often complained to her of being lonely, so the aptly-named Lynne Love decided to set them up on a blind date. Six months later, Tom and Isabell were married, and Lynne was the witness. “I think if I died tomorrow,” Lynne says, “this would be my greatest achievement.”

7.) Sometimes you just know

When he was 6, Wang Zi-heng used to play with his next door neighbor, Qian-qian, and declared that he would marry her when they were older. Zi-heng’s family moved away, though, and that seemed to be the end of that. However, they reconnected some 18 years later and the spark was still there. The couple was married earlier this month.

8.) Keeping it in the family is still weird though

Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones was a famous womanizer, and in a super-icky move, he married an 18-year-old Mandy Smith at the age of 49. That’s not the weirdest part, though. Wyman’s son Stephen ended up marrying Smith’s mother while Wyman and Smith were still married. … talk about awkward.

9.) This unlikely pair gained fame

Roscoe was a stray when he wandered into The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (TIGERS) in South Carolina. Looking thin and lost, he was fed by the staff, and almost immediately took to Suriya, a male orangutan. The two quickly became the best of friends, and have gained fame. The couple is inseparable, and recently a picture book about their daily exploits.

First, let’s set the mood.

It’s vital to educate yourself first, and this book is great for both newbies to BDSM (erotic practices involving dominance and submission, roleplaying, and restraint) and those already in it to win it. This is a solid all-around guide for anyone who is seriously considering exploring safe, sane, and consensual BDSM. $20 here.

This is a great multifunctional whip for newcomers. Made of genuine bull leather tresses, it’s soft enough for beginner play but heavy enough to deliver a firm whack if you wanna go up a level. The handle is hand-blown glass and doubles as a glass dildo for vaginal or anal play. It can also be heated or cooled for temperature play. $25 here.

Babeland is a great store with multiple locations in New York City and one in Seattle. Started by women, their primary focus was to create a woman-friendly sex shop where women can safely explore their sexuality. (But don’t worry boys, there are still plenty of great gifts in there for you, too.) This Bondage in a Box kit is $28 here.

Maybe you became curious about BDSM thanks to Fifty Shades of Grey. If that’s the case, you might want to add this replica of Christian Grey’s silky gray tie — perfect for blindfolding or binding — to your cart. $10.95 here.

Yes, these can be sharp. But if (and only if) you know how to play it safe, this can provide the perfect amount of pain. Try using it on yourself first, it’s important to know what it might feel like to your partner. $3.69 here.

Been thinking about kinbaku — which is Japanese for tight binding? These are essential for tying things up using simple yet visually intricate patterns. Looks difficult? Don’t worry it can be as easy as tying your shoes. $4.85 here. Still unsure? Check out The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage for in-depth tutorials and pictures. $22.59 here.